Despite making up almost three-quarters of South Sudan’s population, young people are often excluded from the national conversations that shape their future.
Markaz Al Salam, a dedicated non-profit organization, is working to change this by creating a platform for youth voices in national policymaking.
In line with its focus on peace-building, education, and health, Markaz Al Salam convened a three-day national workshop under the theme “Enhancing Youth-Led Legislative Reform in South Sudan.”
The event brought together youth representatives, civil society actors, and senior government officials to tackle the stagnation of several key youth-focused policy documents
“The problem with the youth is that they all want to be consulted. Which is not possible. Youth that are not present in consultations tend to drag the policy documents,” said Florence Agiba, Executive Director of Markaz Al Salam. “If there were enough resources, we could consult youth in all ten states and administrative areas. That grassroots engagement is key.”
The workshop centered around five key policy instruments designed to uplift youth participation and opportunity in South Sudan. National Youth and Sports Bill, Student Support and Welfare Fund, Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Women Enterprise Fund Bill and National Youth Development Policy
These bills aim to promote youth inclusion in governance, economic empowerment, and access to education. However, despite years of advocacy, many of the documents remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo, either within ministries or waiting to be tabled in Parliament.
Youth Voices
Malemungu Zacchaeus, a passionate youth leader who participated in the workshop, believes these bills represent more than just policy—they reflect the dreams of a generation.
“As someone who’s been active in the youth space, this workshop was more than symbolic,” he said. “We went in-depth into the five key documents that will shape the welfare of youth now and in the future.”
Zacchaeus stressed that raising awareness among young people is the first step toward reform. “These documents define us—whether youth in churches, cattle camps, or student unions,” he explained. “They outline our rights and fundamental freedoms while we’re still within the youth age bracket.”
However, he warned that the journey toward youth empowerment has been painfully slow.
“In the 14 years since independence, we’ve seen little progress in youth programs. Sometimes the obstacles aren’t even from institutions—they come from us, the youth. We’re divided. We push our interests without a shared purpose, which weakens our advocacy.”
Zacchaeus urged fellow youth to stay united and forward-looking: “Let’s not fight among ourselves. If a bill doesn’t yet reflect all our interests, we can recommend amendments after enactment. What matters now is pushing it to the next level.”
Motwakil Mamour Awol, Deputy Chairperson of the South Sudan National Youth Union, delivered a passionate appeal at the forum.
“South Sudan is a young country with so many young people full of energy, talent, and dreams,” he told participants.
“But even though we make up more than 70% of the population, young people still face many challenges—unemployment, lack of education support, and no space to participate in decision-making that affects their lives.”
Awol emphasized that the workshop was critical in highlighting the National Youth Development Policy and other bills not just as paperwork but as vital tools for empowerment.
“These bills are not just papers or ideas, they are tools to create opportunities—for young people to succeed, to support students and entrepreneurs, and to help youth contribute to peace and development in South Sudan.”
He ended with a rousing call to action:
“Let us use this platform to speak up, share ideas, and think about how we can make these bills work for every young man and woman. As the National Youth Union, we promise to continue uniting young people and advocating for their rights to make South Sudan a place where youth can thrive and live.”
Need for implementation
For Latu Catherine, a facilitator with the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), the workshop was an eye-opener.
“I didn’t even know these bills existed,” she admitted. “So, for me, this forum means everything. It shows how disconnected many youths are from policy processes that directly affect us.”
Catherine emphasized that awareness and access to information are major challenges. “I’m a young woman with access to technology, and even I wasn’t aware. Imagine what that means for youth in rural areas.”
But she also expressed concern about implementation.
“We push for bills to be passed, and once that happens, everything goes quiet. That’s what happened with the Maputo Protocol. It got ratified but now what? No one is tracking implementation.”
For her, the impact of youth policies depends entirely on how they’re enforced. “The presence or absence of these documents affects us either way. But if we can implement them properly, that would be a real turning point for South Sudan.”
Parliament acknowledges delays
Deng Mathiang Ngong, Deputy Chairperson of the National Legislative Assembly’s Youth and Sports Committee, acknowledged the delays, attributing them to funding gaps, legislative backlogs, and lack of coordination.
“We’re not against the bills,” he insisted. “But with other legislative priorities, like the national budget, timelines get pushed.”
Two key youth policies—on sports and youth development—have already reached Parliament, he said, and are expected to be passed before year’s end.
“The parliament is ready to support youth rights. But ministries and civil society must keep pushing. This is a shared responsibility.”
What sets the workshop apart was its multi-ministerial engagement, with officials from the Ministries of Justice, Youth and Sports, Higher Education, and Gender all attending and pledging support.
Yuggu Edward Lado, Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology acknowledged the delays but confirmed progress on the Student Support Fund Bill, drafted in 2018.
“The bill went from the Ministry of Justice to the Cabinet and was approved, but there was a typo in the funding allocation—from 0.5% of oil revenue to 0.05%. That small change drastically reduced its impact. We’re lobbying to fix that.”
Edward strongly believes that, if enacted and properly resourced, the bill would transform student life in South Sudan. “Students would have access to accommodation, health care, and even research support,” he said. “But political will and the economic crisis remain challenges.”
He further explained one of the most anticipated reforms: the Student Support and Welfare Fund Bill.
“This should have been passed right after independence,” Lado said. “When we separated from Sudan, we lost the student support fund. Our students abroad and in local universities were left stranded.”
He explained that the bill has undergone redrafting and review by multiple ministries and is now awaiting submission to Parliament from the Ministry of Justice. The legislation would establish a semi-autonomous fund to provide housing, tuition, healthcare, and insurance for students at public institutions.
“It includes students abroad but excludes part-time and private students,” Yugo clarified. “But it’s a start and we need youth to push for its passage.”
Drafting in Progress
Deng Kur Joseph, a legal Counsel, at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs reaffirmed that youth bills are a national priority, reassuring participants that the National Youth and Sport Council Bill is actively moving through the legislative process.
“It’s going from the Ministry of Justice to the Council of Ministers, and from there to Parliament. I’m very sure it’s moving—and with time, it will be out like other bills that have already come out.”
He emphasized the need for laws that ensure structure, accountability, and rights for young people.
“Youth are the backbone of this country. These bills define their roles, responsibilities, and rights. They also bring order to areas like sports, where legal frameworks are essential.”
Partners’ Support
Markaz Al Salam emerged from civic efforts to bridge youth voices with national policy-making arenas. The organization continues to grow its partnerships across civil society and government institutions to ensure youth legislation gains momentum and legitimacy.
Florence Agiba emphasized the importance of bringing ministries on board:
“When government ministries like Youth and Sports or the National Youth Union are present in these conversations, there’s stronger traction,” she said. “We’ve seen that institutional ownership leads to greater responsiveness.”
With support from partners such as Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), the workshop succeeded in engaging youth and stakeholders from across sectors. NPA continues to play a supportive role by offering logistical and technical assistance to amplify youth-led advocacy.
Agiba believes success can be measured in stages Awareness: Youth know the documents exist,Ownership: Youth feel the documents belong to them, Movement: Bills advance from one ministry to another, Enactment and implementation, which is the ultimate goal.
“We’re going well,” she said, “but we need urgency. These documents have sat for too long. Within 6 to 12 months, we want to see them passed and implemented.”
What’s at Stake?
Agiba put it bluntly: “Anyone who wants to see South Sudan grow must invest in its youth. Those who fought for liberation were young. Today’s youth have dreams too—and need support.”
Catherine agreed, adding: “If we don’t implement these bills, we’ll keep suffering. Youth need the freedom to express themselves, to be heard, and to access opportunities. That’s the South Sudan I want to see.”
